Also posting on Twitter, Martin McCluskey, who will become Scottish Labour’s political director next month, said: “If Paul Mason believes in party democracy, he should start by listening to @scottishlabour members who don’t want Indy or #indyref2.”

Labour MSP Neil Findlay said: “I think I need to have a pint with Mr Mason to advise him he’s talking bollocks.”

However, former Labour Party member Denise Couper tweeted support.

She said: “It is Scottish Labour’s only hope, unionists are going to the Tories. Scotland’s choice - either Indy in EU or Westminster Tory rule.”

Paul Mason is one of Britain’s best-known journalists. He was culture and digital editor of Channel 4 News, becoming the programme’s economics editor, a post he formerly held on BBC2’s Newsnight programme.

He has written several books, including Postcapitalism and Live Working Or Die Fighting.